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🖼️ Add a custom icon to your Minecraft server#

Give your Minecraft server a unique visual identity with this comprehensive guide to create, optimize and install a custom icon. A distinctive icon enhances your players' experience and strengthens your Minecraft server's brand image hosted at LibraHost.

🎯 Guide objectives#

  • 🎨 Create an optimized icon with the right dimensions and format
  • 📤 Install the icon on your Minecraft server via SFTP
  • ⚡ Apply changes without service interruption
  • 🔧 Troubleshoot the most common display issues
  • 🎨 Optimize rendering for all types of Minecraft clients

🧰 Prerequisites#

  • A Minecraft server hosted at LibraHost (Java or Bedrock)
  • SFTP access to the server (see our SFTP guide)
  • An image editing software (GIMP, Photoshop, Paint.NET, or Canva)
  • The icon you want to use (logo, mascot, theme...)

1️⃣ Icon design and preparation#

🎨 Mandatory technical specifications#

The Minecraft server icon must meet strict criteria to display correctly:

  • Format: PNG required (with transparency support)
  • Dimensions: Exactly 64x64 pixels (no other size accepted)
  • Depth: 32 bits (RGBA) for transparency
  • Filename: server-icon.png (exactly, case-sensitive)
  • Recommended size: Less than 50 KB for fast loading

🖼️ Design tips for a successful icon#

Readability and visual impact#

  • High contrast: Your icon must be visible on dark and light backgrounds
  • Simplicity: Avoid fine details that disappear at 64x64 pixels
  • Bright colors: Use eye-catching colors in the server list
  • Consistent theme: The icon should reflect your server's universe (medieval, modern, survival...)

Examples of effective icons#

  • Simple logo: Stylized letter, recognizable symbol
  • Pixelated character: Your server's mascot, emblematic skin
  • Minecraft object: Pickaxe, sword, characteristic block of your server
  • Emblem: Coat of arms, shield, guild badge

🛠️ Creation with different software#

Option 1: GIMP (free and complete)#

# Install GIMP on Linux
sudo apt install gimp

# Or download on Windows/Mac from https://www.gimp.org/

Steps in GIMP:

  1. File → New Image → 64x64 pixels
  2. Create your design or import an existing image
  3. Image → Scale Image → 64x64 pixels
  4. File → Export As → server-icon.png
  5. Choose PNG with compression 6-9

Option 2: Canva (online, easy)#

  1. Go to canva.com
  2. Create a custom 64x64 pixel design
  3. Use "Logo" or "Icon" templates
  4. Download in PNG with transparent background

Option 3: Photoshop#

  1. File → New → 64x64 pixels, 72 DPI
  2. Create your design on separate layers
  3. File → Export → Export As → PNG

Option 4: Paint.NET (Windows, free)#

  1. Image → New → 64x64 pixels
  2. Draw or paste your image
  3. Image → Resize if necessary
  4. File → Save As → PNG

✅ Verifying your icon#

Before upload, check these critical points:

# Check your file dimensions on Linux
file server-icon.png
identify server-icon.png

# On Windows with PowerShell
Get-ChildItem server-icon.png | Select-Object Name, Length

Validation checklist:

  • Name exactly: server-icon.png
  • Dimensions: 64x64 pixels
  • Format: PNG
  • File size: < 50 KB
  • Readable at small size
  • Consistent with your theme

2️⃣ Uploading the icon to your Minecraft server#

📁 File location on the server#

The icon must be placed exactly at the root of your Minecraft server folder:

/your-minecraft-server/
├── server-icon.png          ← HERE (same level as server.properties)
├── server.properties
├── world/
├── plugins/ (for Bukkit/Spigot)
├── mods/ (for Forge/Fabric)
└── logs/

🚀 Upload via SFTP#

Method 1: FileZilla (recommended for beginners)#

  1. SFTP connection

    • Open FileZilla
    • Host: Your LibraHost server IP
    • Username: provided by LibraHost
    • Password: provided by LibraHost
    • Port: 22

  2. Navigate to the server folder

    • In the right panel, navigate to your Minecraft server folder
    • You should see server.properties, world/, etc.

  3. Upload the icon

    • Drag and drop server-icon.png from your computer (left panel) to the server (right panel)
    • The icon should appear at the same level as server.properties

Method 2: WinSCP (Windows)#

  1. Open WinSCP and connect with your SFTP credentials
  2. Navigate to the root folder of your Minecraft server
  3. Right-click → Upload → select server-icon.png

Method 3: Terminal/SSH (advanced)#

# From your local computer
scp server-icon.png username@server-ip:/path/to/minecraft/server/

# Or via direct SSH on the server
wget https://mysite.com/my-icon.png -O server-icon.png

🔐 Checking permissions#

Once uploaded, verify that the server can read the file:

# SSH connection to the server
ssh username@server-ip

# Check presence and permissions of the file
ls -la server-icon.png

# Adjust permissions if necessary
chmod 644 server-icon.png
chown minecraft-user:minecraft-group server-icon.png  # Replace with your users

3️⃣ Applying changes#

🔄 Server restart#

The icon is loaded only at startup of the Minecraft server. A restart is therefore required.

Via LibraHost panel (recommended)#

  1. Log in to your LibraHost customer area
  2. Section Services → My services
  3. Click on your Minecraft server
  4. Button Restart or Restart

Via Minecraft console (if enabled)#

# In the server console
stop

# Wait for complete shutdown, then restart via panel

Via SSH (self-managed server)#

# Proper server shutdown
pkill -SIGTERM java

# Restart (example with script)
./start.sh
# or
java -jar server.jar nogui

⏱️ Propagation time#

  • Immediate: The icon appears after restart
  • Client cache: Players may need to refresh their server list (F5)
  • DNS cache: May take a few minutes if you use a domain name

4️⃣ Verification and testing#

🔍 Test from Minecraft client#

  1. Open Minecraft (Java Edition or Bedrock depending on your server)
  2. Multiplayer → Add a server (if not already done)
  3. Refresh the server list (F5 or refresh button)
  4. Verify that your custom icon appears

📱 Multi-platform testing#

  • Minecraft Java: PC, Mac, Linux
  • Minecraft Bedrock: Mobile, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch
  • Different versions: 1.19, 1.20, 1.21+

🌐 Test via online tools#

Some sites allow you to test your server's icon:

  • mcstatus.io - Server status and icon
  • mcsrvstat.us - Server verification API
  • minecraft-server-list.com - Icon preview

5️⃣ Troubleshooting common issues#

❌ Icon does not display#

Basic checks#

# 1. Check file presence
ls -la server-icon.png

# 2. Check dimensions
file server-icon.png
# Expected result: PNG image data, 64 x 64, 8-bit/color RGBA

# 3. Check permissions
ls -la server-icon.png
# Expected result: -rw-r--r-- or similar

Common causes and solutions#

1. Incorrect filename

# ❌ Wrong names (examples)
Server-Icon.png     # Uppercase
server-icon.PNG     # Extension in uppercase
servericon.png      # Missing dash
server_icon.png     # Underscore instead of dash

# ✅ Correct name
server-icon.png

2. Wrong dimensions

# Check and fix with ImageMagick
sudo apt install imagemagick
identify server-icon.png

# Resize if necessary
convert server-icon.png -resize 64x64! server-icon-fixed.png
mv server-icon-fixed.png server-icon.png

3. Incorrect file format

# Convert from other formats
convert icon.jpg server-icon.png
convert icon.gif server-icon.png

4. Corrupted file

# Test PNG integrity
pngcheck server-icon.png

# If corrupted, re-download or recreate

🔧 Advanced problems#

Persistent client cache#

# Delete Minecraft cache (Linux)
rm -rf ~/.minecraft/server-resource-packs/
rm -rf ~/.minecraft/assets/

# Windows
del /s "%appdata%\.minecraft\server-resource-packs\*"

# Mac
rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/minecraft/server-resource-packs/

Server permissions#

# Fix permissions
chown minecraft:minecraft server-icon.png
chmod 644 server-icon.png

# For servers with root user (not recommended)
chown root:root server-icon.png

Plugin conflicts#

Some plugins can interfere with the icon:

  • PlugMan: Plugin reload
  • ServerListPlus: Advanced server list management
  • Resource packs: May hide the icon

📞 When to contact support#

Contact LibraHost support if:

  • Icon does not display after 24h and all checks
  • Persistent permission errors despite chmod 644
  • SFTP access problems
  • Server does not restart correctly

✅ Conclusion#

Your LibraHost Minecraft server now features a professional custom icon that:

  1. ✅ Improves visual identity - Your server stands out in the list
  2. ✅ Attracts new players - A polished icon inspires confidence
  3. ✅ Strengthens your brand - Visual consistency with your community
  4. ✅ Optimizes experience - More intuitive navigation for your players

🚀 Recommended next steps#

  • Create seasonal variants to maintain interest
  • Adapt your icon on Discord, website, social media
  • Collect feedback from your community to optimize
  • Monitor connection statistics after the change

🎮 Server ready - Your custom icon is now active and your players can enjoy a unique visual experience!

This guide covers Minecraft Java Edition and Bedrock Edition for all LibraHost hosting. Updated for Minecraft versions 1.21+

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